A 24-hour routine against male hair loss: minoxidil and Capixyl in the morning, CARETOPIC at bedtime

At a glance

Three products work on three different targets: hair growth (minoxidil), support of the root (Capixyl, according to the manufacturer) and the cause of the loss (finasteride in the CARETOPIC spray). They are applied in two steps, in the morning and in the evening before bed, and the morning products and the spray are spread over the whole day. Results are expected after 3–6 months of daily use.

The routine over 24 hours

• 🌅 Morning. Wash the hair, dry it, apply 5% minoxidil to the dry scalp, once a day. About 1 hour later, apply the lotion with Capixyl: acetyl tetrapeptide-3 (a peptide of 4 amino acids) and red clover extract with biochanin A (a plant compound). The morning wash removes the spray applied the night before, so both products go onto skin already free of the spray.
• 🌙 Evening, before bed. Apply CARETOPIC to the dry scalp: 1–4 sprays (50–200 µl), nothing else on that area. By then a whole day has passed since the morning products. The spray needs at least 6 hours on the skin without washing — the night provides them, so the morning wash comes no sooner than 6 hours after applying it.

The morning products and the spray are spread over the whole day: in the evening nothing else is applied to that area, and minoxidil and Capixyl go on in the morning, when the spray has already been washed off. The gaps: Capixyl about 1 hour after minoxidil, at least 6 hours between CARETOPIC and the morning wash.

How each product works

• Minoxidil: growth. A hair lives in cycles: it grows, rests, falls out. Minoxidil may prolong the growth phase and enlarge the follicle, like a plant that blooms longer and grows larger. Its sulphated form, minoxidil sulphate, is thought to be the active one (Messenger AG, Br J Dermatol 2004. PMID 14996087^[1]). In 393 men, the 5% solution twice a day over 48 weeks gave 45% more hair regrowth than 2%, and the response came earlier (Olsen EA, J Am Acad Dermatol 2002. PMID 12196747^[2]). In 352 men, 5% foam over 16 weeks increased hair counts significantly more than placebo, P < 0.0001 (Olsen EA, J Am Acad Dermatol 2007. PMID 17761356^[3]).
• Capixyl: support of the root. According to the manufacturer, the lotion strengthens the hair bulb and supports the root of the hair, like firm soil that holds a plant's root. In a manufacturer's study of 30 volunteers with receding hair, a combination of red clover extract and a peptide over 4 months raised the number of hairs in the growth phase by 13% from baseline on average (placebo −2%) and lowered the number of resting-phase hairs by 29% (placebo +23%) (Loing E, J Cosmet Sci 2013. PMID 23449130^[4]). In 32 people (16 men), a combination of biochanin A, acetyl tetrapeptide-3 and ginseng, 1 ml twice a day over 24 weeks raised terminal (thick) hair counts by 8.3%, and 3% minoxidil by 8.7%; the difference was not significant (Lueangarun S, J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2020. PMID 33584955^[5]).
• Finasteride: the cause. The loss is linked to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase type 2 produces; roots in balding areas gradually shrink. Finasteride turns this “tap” down. In 32 men, with 100 and 200 µl of the 0.25% solution (200 µl is the full dose, 4 sprays) once a day for 1 week, scalp DHT fell by 47% and 52% (Caserini M, Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2016. PMID 26636418^[6]). In a trial of 458 men (spray, tablet or placebo), over 24 weeks hair count per cm² with the spray rose by 20.2 vs 6.7 with placebo; peak plasma finasteride with the spray was more than 100 times lower than with the tablet (Piraccini BM, J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022. PMID 34634163^[7]).

What the combination showed

In 42 men (mean age 24) over 6 months, “5% minoxidil in the morning + 0.25% finasteride spray in the evening” (19 people) gave +56 hairs per cm² by month 3 and +81 by month 6; significant growth occurred only in this group. A photographic score of 2 or more (scale −3 to +3) was reached by 79% of this group vs 8% with the spray alone and 41% with minoxidil twice a day (Rossi A, J Cosmet Dermatol 2024. PMID 37798906^[8]). In 40 men, 0.25% finasteride and 3% minoxidil in one solution (twice a day, 24 weeks) were significantly better than 3% minoxidil alone for hair density, diameter and photographic assessment; about 90% of those given the mixture had moderate or marked improvement (Suchonwanit P, J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2018. PMID 29972712^[9]).

How to apply

• Dry scalp before each product: in the morning the hair is dried after the wash; in the evening the spray goes onto dry skin. Minoxidil and lotion: according to the product leaflet, onto thinning areas with the finger pads, then wash the hands.
• CARETOPIC: 1–4 sprays (no more than 4) through the cone pressed against the scalp, on different spots; do not rub in with the fingers. Let it dry before lying down.
• Consistency. The same applications every day, morning and evening at the same time; first results after 3–6 months, best assessed together with a doctor.
• Washing. The hair is washed once a day, in the morning; a mild shampoo is suitable.

Who must not use it and when to see a doctor

• CARETOPIC must not be used by women (not intended), by pregnant women and women who may become pregnant, or with hypersensitivity to its ingredients. Its safety in children and adolescents under 18 has not been established. Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant and children under 18 must not touch the product, the treated scalp or surfaces it has reached. It is indicated for men aged 18–41 with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia.
• CARETOPIC is not applied to inflamed, irritated or infected scalp; on damaged skin the alcohol in it may burn. See a doctor first if the loss is patchy, sudden or with itching and flaking; if there is no result after 6 months; with anxiety, low mood, or lumps and pain in the breast. If the cause is unclear, check iron and the thyroid first: “Hair loss and brittle nails: which tests to get”.
• Selection. The routine and doses are chosen at a consultation. More on the spray: the CARETOPIC guide and the product page.